Mers in Lake Michigan?

[Mermaid Marissa]

I live on the Chicago side of the lake and every time I go I can't see a thing :P I have heard there are ship wreaks and stuff and wanted to know if anyone has ever seen them or even tried swimming and being able to see in the lake?

[Bellasea]

I'm from West Michigan! Yay for Lake Michigan Mers! Anywhoos, I know that farther up north there are shipwrecks. I have not yet been to one, but I hope I will be able to soon.
http://www.michiganshipwrecks.org/diving.htm here is a link to some dive sites in southern Lake Michigan.
http://www.greatlakesdiving.com/-/lake_michigan/ another one!
http://michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313_3677_3701-14591--,00.html#Manitou one of unerwater preserve sites

Also, I would ask Capt Nemo on here. I am pretty sure that he dives in Lake Michigan. :)

Hope I have helped!!

[Mermaid Marissa]

Thanks so much you have helpful all morning :D thank you so much

[Bellasea]

^^ It seems like we hace just been going back and forth :) I see you one place, post something, see you in another, post again. All morning yesterday! :D

[Mermaid Marissa]

^^ It seems like we hace just been going back and forth :) I see you one place, post something, see you in another, post again. All morning yesterday! :D

I know crazy :lol:

[~MermaidSage~]

CHICAGO SIDE! The best side to be on. B-|

[Bellasea]

Soo... I know will sound like an ignorant fool, but can you Chicago mers swim in Lake Michigan? Or do youm have to drive for like ever to get to a Lake Michigan beach?

[Mermaid Marissa]

I live on the beach (well two blocks away) but we can swim in the lake my mom is just scared of me and the under current, etc., etc. (and no question is a stupid one XD I love answering questions!)

[Bellasea]

cool! I was just wondering b/c I have always thought that only the michigan side of the lake could be swam in.

[Cordelia]

Chicago side here, too. But, I do have a little bit of a drive to get there. Luckily, there are a lot of beaches in the area. As soon as I finish my tail, I will be checking a few out. Shouldn't be long now. :D

[Bellasea]

^^good luck with your tail! And welcome to MerNetwork! :D

[Capt Nemo]

Check the shorelines on Bing maps. They have a bird's eye view that's aerial photography instead of sattelite photography. I've found a lot of near shore wrecks that way. If you're out away from a marked swimming area, you must fly a dive flag, and stay within 50' of it. Michigan rules have the flag size at 14x16" and must be at least 2' above the water. Kinda sucks having to tow a flag buoy, but then it's better than being a manatee getting hit by a boat!


Here's something along the beach by the Lincoln Park Zoo. Might be submerged dock pilings or a sunk barge.
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qzkwfm7pxwgg&lvl=19.65&dir=350.13&sty=b&form=LMLTCC

I haven't seen much close to shore around Chicago.

But here's some from up in Door County. Most are my photoshoot locations and are less than 15' deep.
Bullhead Point. Wrecks of the Ida Corning, Oak Leaf, and Empire State. All 3 burned to the waterline.
Lots of tanglement possibility with fishline, weeds, and on wreckage, so be careful. Also silty, so keep the tail from touching the wreck.
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=rg676y7qh9vs&lvl=19.75&dir=354.48&sty=b&form=LMLTCC

Cave Point. Cliffs, and rock formations, and parts of the D.A. VanValkenburg. Dive only when calm. Watch for currents!
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=rgnkxw7r22bv&lvl=18.78&dir=358.72&sty=b&form=LMLTCC

Lakeshore Park, Jacksonport. Renold's Pier and wrecks of the Cecilia, and Hanna Perry. There's another pier and wreck to the north, but the beach is private.
Shifting sand over rock, shallowest parts are in 2' of water.
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=rgwphy7r1bpp&lvl=19.7&dir=3.56&sty=b&form=LMLTCC
Video shot while snorkeling on the surface.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP-xg7y3kJE&feature=plcp

Fleetwing wreck Garret Bay. Most of the wreck is in 10-12' but the righthand piece is in about 5-6 and comes within 2'.
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=rjdxd47rc6kd&lvl=19.62&dir=355.99&sty=b&form=LMLTCC

Please get in touch if you'd like to go out on these wrecks. You bring the tail, I'll bring the cameras and snorkel gear. :D

[Mermaid Danielle]

I've had a hard time seeing underwater at certain beaches as well. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the activity of the area. If you want to see clearly in the water, you probably need to go somewhere relatively uninhabited by humans...

[Kumori Kitsune]

I swam up there for vacation I swam at a beach near fish town

[Amore]

So glad to see some Chicagoland mers!!! Every beach I've been to in the city only lets you swim out so far though. Last time there were buoys set up at a certain distance and boated life guards to say when to go back to the shallow swimming area. Have you guys found any decent swim spots in the city? I can't see in the water either hopefully I will adjust eventually.

[AngelFish]

I live in Racine, WI. So I am on Lake Michigan as well :D Let me know if you live close! I have a lot to learn, and its nice to have friends when starting something new. Hope all are having a great day/night!

[lamplighter]

if you can try around Munising michingan water is picture perfect most of the time but cool. Munising has a dive company that will take you out.

[Maethor]

Hey everyone! I know I'm a bit late to this party. I live in Northwest Indiana, and I'm about a half an hour from the Indiana Dunes on Lake Michigan. I can't wait until I have a tail so I can take some pretty pictures on the beach!

[teeth4u]

Hey everyone! I know I'm a bit late to this party. I live in Northwest Indiana, and I'm about a half an hour from the Indiana Dunes on Lake Michigan. I can't wait until I have a tail so I can take some pretty pictures on the beach!

I go to the Indiana Dunes all the time over the summer! We will have to meet up sometime :)

[Maethor]

Definitely!! I'd love to meet more mers!

[Merman Chatfish]

I am over in NE Iowa but would love to do a meet up at some point.

[Kishiko]

If anyone is going to be in the Chicago/Evanston area on Sunday-Monday I'd love to meet up for a swim!

[Maethor]

I have to go back to school then:( definitely will have to meet up over the summer!

[Kishiko]

Are you going back on Sunday?

[Maethor]

Yep!

[Maethor]

Just curious, where do you go swimming in the winter?

[Kishiko]

I go to pools, although if you mean Chicago specifically I have no idea because this is my first time there! My brother goes to school at northwestern

[Maethor]

That's awesome! We'll definitely have to do it some other time!

[Mermaid Marissa]

If anyone is going to be in the Chicago/Evanston area on Sunday-Monday I'd love to meet up for a swim!

I know we already talked about this lol but if anyone is around during the summer me and my tail should be back in the Evanston area

[Maethor]

I know we already talked about this lol but if anyone is around during the summer me and my tail should be back in the Evanston area
Awesome! We'll definitely have to do something. I should have a tail by then! *screams*

[Mermaid Kelly]

Hi there! I frequent Montrose Harbor when I can and also the Indiana Dunes where the water is less murky and a bit cleaner.

[Mermaid Marissa]

Awesome! We'll definitely have to do something. I should have a tail by then! *screams*

Yay! That's so exciting!!!

[Mermaid Marissa]

Hi there! I frequent Montrose Harbor when I can and also the Indiana Dunes where the water is less murky and a bit cleaner.

I haven't been up there but I'd be willing to check out new places :)

[Mermaid Nerissa]

I live near Chicago (suburbs) but I haven't had the time or guts to go swim in Lake Michigan yet. I have gone swimming in my tail in the ocean on vacation, but when I had my first tail they wouldn't let my swim in it in the pools in my area because of liability hazards. It looks like Lake Michigan is my best bet, but I couldn't do it without goggles. Anyone know any pools around the Chicago area or Suburbs that allow mers? Thanks!

[merstorm]

I am right by Schaumburg anyone know of a pool to swim with a tail on

[Mermaid Nerissa]

I live in Arlington Heights as well! I don't know of any as of now but will definitely look into it!

[merstorm]

Sweet glad to see another mermaid in the area I think we need to plan a coffie and swim meet

[Mermaid Nerissa]

Totally! Will do!

[Mermaid Kelly]

Hey all! There will be a meet up tomorrow (July 26th) morning at 11am on Montrose beach for those of you who haven't seen the post in other groups yet. So far I think there are just three of us going...please join if you can!!

<3

[Mermaid Cherish]

I'm actually from the mid-west coast of Michigan, but we have a ferry that can take us to Wisconsin. Cost a few dollars, though.

[Arella]

I'm actually up by Lake Mich right now :)

[Mermaid Cherish]

Aww! I missed you. What side were you on, Arella?